Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City are also interested and underlines why David Dein believes Arsenal must act quickly to agree a new contract for club captain and PFA Player of the Year Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman has scored 27 goals for
the Gunners this season and has becoming an increasingly integral part
of Arsene Wenger's side, especially since the sales of Cesc Fabregas and
Samir Nasri last summer.

Prolific: The Dutchman has scored 27 goals this season

Van Persie's contract expires at the
end of next season and the club risk losing for him for free if a new
deal is not agreed soon.

Dein, who was the club's
vice-chairman when Van Persie was signed in 2004, told Sky Sports News:
'He is very important to the club and it is not every day you can get a
guy who can score over 30 goals in a season.'

'There
was a lot of competition at the time and we are very fortunate he
signed for us. I was delighted and he has proved the point because he
has been such a prolific goalscorer for the club.

'He plays with passion, he plays with his heart and, as you heard in his speech, he is a very modest guy.

'He has done a great job for the club and the fact that he has stayed with the club all this time, when he has had plenty of opportunities to go elsewhere, says a lot about Robin’s character.'